The Pot Dilemma

Since the discovery, exploration and colonization of America, tobacco has been a part this culture. From the Indians, on to the Pilgrims and to the Amish of today, growing tobacco is an annual tradition. This crop was part of a thriving industry until medical research revealed a connection to cancer in the 1960’s. Advertisements, commercials and movie stars portrayed smoking cigarettes as cool. Despite warning labels placed on packaging, tobacco companies continued to profit. High schools offered smoking courts to students who sought a daily nicotine high. Yet, in the last twenty years, the demonization of tobacco has taken extreme measures to reduce the smoking population. Sin taxes, the banning of smoking establishments in major cities and public service announcements hope to snuff off this harmful hobby.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, 1 Peter 5:8.

If leaders in the Progressive Party get their way, the government will soon control what you eat or drink. This implementation began with the national school lunch plan, forcing students to eat healthy. The only problem is you can’t force someone to do something they are not ready to do. Sure, you can try through coercion like putting outrageous taxes on soda or sugar products. This may deter individuals but at some point Americas will realize what is happening. What’s next coffee or a modern tea party response? When you don’t allow free will to play itself out, freedoms will be taken away one at a time. Local and state governments are now applying high school tactics at a national level where one person’s trespass bans an act for everyone else. Yet, why would a growing number of states now be open to legalizing marijuana?

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires, Romans 13:13-14.

Initially, states introduced legislation for medical pot use only for killing pain. Today, 17 states has developed or passed similar laws. A few states out west have expanded earlier bills by allowing pot shops. Recently, Denver has reported a large homeless population possibly due to drug addiction. Meanwhile, state officials blame this on a lack of affordable housing. My one question for the pot dilemma is if it took a couple of centuries to realize smoking cigarettes was bad for your health, how long will it take to scrutinize pot smoking? I lost a good friend from high school to cancer due to smoking pot. Another friend from college was unable to have kids, killing his sperm count from excessive pot smoking with this issue eventually ending his marriage. I’m sure my readers have there own nightmares. While tobacco companies were demonized for corporate profits, state governments are set up to make millions in tax dollars. Will there be a sense of urgency to uncover the dangers of smoking pot or will states hide behind this new slush fund? This is the pot dilemma.